STUART — Local veterans' groups are trying to come up with about $30,000 to install bronze plaques at Stuart's Memorial Park for each of America's major armed conflicts.

City workers installed 13 4-foot pedestals, which line Memorial Park's main pavilion, just in time for Memorial Day ceremonies this year at a cost of about $14,000, said Sam Amerson, city public works director.

The next step is to add plaques commemorating each military conflict.

"The main reason we started this was to build educational pieces to attract school classes, scout troops and other groups, and our hope is to make an impact on younger people and those who have not served to make them aware of what the cost was," said John Haddox, Martin County Veterans Services supervisor.

The Korean War Veterans' Association has installed a plaque commemorating Americans' service in that conflict, and Haddox said he will soon start reaching out to local veterans' organizations to raise the $2,000 to $2,500 needed for each additional plaque.

The remaining 18-inch bronze discs will be arranged in chronological order and represent each of America's major conflicts from the Revolutionary War, through the Indian and Mexican wars, up to the Gulf War era and the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, Haddox said.

Although the project has been in the works for some time, Stuart City Commissioner Troy McDonald said the city and its citizen advisory board to the park wanted to ensure the memorials accomplish their purpose while fitting with the overall park plan.

"We wanted to be deliberate and thoughtful in our process and still make sure our veterans are getting the respect they deserve," McDonald said.

Scaling a $30,000 budget bulwark will be no small task in a hard economy, but local officials say they are confident the project will be completed.

"This is a good community," Amerson said. "They all come together and give."

WHO TO CONTACT

To find out more about donating the cost of a memorial plaque, contact: